Coin storage receptacle



Jan. 25, 1966 M. BLOCK com STORAGE RECEPTACLE Filed Nov. 1, 1962 NVENTOR MITCHELL BLOCK ATTY.

United States Patent '0 3,231,074 CfiIN STORAGE RECEPTACLE Mitchell Block,948 Wade St., Highland Park, Ill. Filed-Nov. 1,1962, Ser. No. 234,612 2 Claims. (Q1. -206-.84)

This invention relatesv to improvements in coin storage receptacles.

It isanobject, of the present invention to provide a coin storage receptacle that is capable of being stacked with a plurality of-other coin, storage receptacles that are used tore'ceive and store coins of the same denomination as the first-mentioned receptacle.

.It. is a further object of the present invention to provide a coin storage system having a plurality of coin storagefreceptacles:usedfor the storage of coins of the same denomination, and wherein the receptacles are so constructed that they can be stacked one upon the other in any desired order.

'-It is amore specific object of the present invention to provide a coinstorage system of the type stated in which two of the receptacles of the system are shallow trays, each capable of storing. rolled coins, and one of the trays also being designed for storing loose coins, and furthermore, wherein there is a third. tray that is substantially deeper than the other two trays. The trays are constructedso that any one can telescope with any other one eitherwhile the trays are empty or filled to capacity, thereby'enabling the'trays to be stacked in any order'desired while full or empty.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is..a perspective view of the coin storage trays stacked together and constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIGS. 2and 3 are each side elevational views, on a re'ducediscale, oftheernpty trays, and showing their being stacked indifferent orders;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. land showing, in broken lines, rolls of coins carried by the trays;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on a reduced scale, taken along line5 5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectionalvview taken along line 66 of FIG.'4 but showingl'oose coins carried by one of the trays.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates -a preferred embodiment of the present invention, 1 designates an open top tray that is preferably a one-piece molded, thermoplastic member havingabottom '3 and short upstanding parallel side walls 5, 7. The tray 1 is also formed with end walls 9, 11 that extend upwardly a considerable distance beyond the upper ends of the side walls 5, 7, whereby the tray is laterally open at each side thereof. The end walls 9, 11 are U-shaped, being formed with legs 13, 15, 17, 19 that merge into the side walls 5, 7. The outwardly presented surfaces of the end Walls 9, 11 are integrally provided with handles 21, 23 to facilitate handling of the tray 1, the handles 21, 23 preferably extending across the full width of the end walls 9, 11.

The tray bottom 3 is formed with a plurality of parallel grooves 25 that extend transversely of the tray 1 from one side wall 5 to the other side wall 7. The distance between the side walls 5, 7 and the curvature of the grooves 25 are such that the tray 1 is adapted to store a plurality of similar rolls 1' of coins of a specified denomination. For example, in the embodiment of the invention herein shown, there are ten grooves 25, each of which is adapted to receive a roll of fifty pennies. If desired, the outside surface of the tray bottom 3 may have spaced longitudinally extending ribs 27, 29 that serve to reenforce and rigidify the tray 1.

Also forming part of the coin storage and handling system is a second open top tray 1a that is identicalin most respects to the first mentioned tray 1. The parts of the tray In that correspond to the previously described parts of the tray 1 are identified by the same reference numerals but bearing the subscript a. The bottom 3a of the tray 1a has transverse grooves 31 that are centrally separated by an upstanding divider 33 that is integrally formed on the tray bottom 3a and divides the grooves 31 into two equal parts 35, 37, as best seen in FIG. 6. The groove parts'35, 37 of each groove 31 are adapted to receive a specified number of loose coins 39 of the denomination. By filling either of the parts 35, 37 with coins, a quick count of coins can be obtained. The divider 33 forms another set of grooves 40, the widths of which are only a small fractional part of the width of the 'tray, but are sufficient to support rolls r of coins identical to those supported by the tray 1, as shown for instance, in FIG. 4.

integrally formed'on and depending from the bottom 3 of the tray 1 adjacent to the end walls'9, 11 are U-shaped stacking flanges 41,43 that are shaped to telescope'within the end walls 9a, 11a of the tray 1a when the tray 1 is stacked on the tray 1a, as shown in FIGS.'1 and-4. When the trays are so stacked, the end walls 9a, 11a of the'subjacent trayla support the-end walls 9, 11 of the superimposed tray 1, and the corresponding side walls 5, 7, 5a, 7a of the trays are in alignment. The end walls 9, 11, 9a, 11a of the trays are of such height that the trays may be stacked empty or filled to capacity with coins or rolls r, as the-case may be. The side walls 5, 7, 5a, 7a .are high enough to form end abutments for the coin rolls r but are sufficiently low to enable the rolls r to be visible at the sides of the trays 1, 1a when they are stacked. This permits the rolls r or coins 33 to be easily placed in or removed from the trays 1, 1a, and the contents. of the trays to be checked when stacked. The tray 1a has stacking flanges 41a, 43a that are similar to the stacking flanges-41,43, to enable the tray 1a to be superimposed and stacked upon the tray 1.

A third tray 1b is also provided for handling rolls r of coins. The tray 1b is substantially deeper than either of the trays 1, 1a, and comprises a bottom wall 45, spaced parallel side walls 47, 49, and spaced parallel end walls 51, 53. The end and side walls 47, 49, 51, 53 are of equal height and define 'a top opening into the tray 1b. Handles 55, 57, that are similar to the handles 21, 23 are provided, respectively, on the end walls 51, '53 near the upper ends thereof. The tray 1b is equal in width and length to the other two trays 1,1a, but being substantially deeper than either of the trays 1, 1a, is capable of much greater capacity. For example, in the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, the tray 1b can hold fifty rolls 1' of pennies, ten rolls per row, and five rows deep. Formed in the end walls 51, 53 are vertical slots 59, 61 that extend from the bottom 45 to about four-fifths of the way up the end walls 51, 53. These slots at each end of the tray 11) facilitate checking of the contents of the tray 112 since rolls of coins therein are visible through the slots 59, 61.

When the trays are stacked in the manner shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, the stacking flanges 41a, 43a of the tray 1a telescope within the end walls 51, 53 and a small portion of the side walls 47, 49 adjacent thereto to hold the trays 1a, 1b in stacked vertical alignment. Furthermore, the tray bottom 45 has depending stacking flanges 41b, 43b that are similar to the previously described stacking flanges 41, 43, 41a, 43a, and are adapted to telescope within the side walls of the tray 1a or 112 when the deep tray 1b is stacked upon either the tray 1b, as shown in FIG. 2, or the tray 1, as shown in FIG. 3.

The trays are preferably of the same color, which is a code as to coin denomination of the trays, and the capacity of each tray may be imprinted thereon, as shown in FIG. 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the trays may be stacked in any order when either full, partially full, or empty. The group of trays may be grasped by the handles of the lower-most tray of the stack and transported from place to place, and the stacking interlock of the trays insures their stable support upon each other in the stack.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction herein shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention.

What is considered new and sought to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A coin storage receptacle comprising an open top tray having a bottom, upstanding side walls and upstanding end walls that project above the side walls and cooperate with the end walls to define lateral openings at the sides of the tray, said bottom having an upstanding member that runs from one end wall to the other and parallel to the side walls to constitute a. divider that divides the tray into two parts, said member having a width which is a minor fractional part of the distance between said side walls and having parallel grooves that are spaced above the bottom wall and which run trans-2 versely of said member, said bottom wall also having grooves that lie below the grooves in the divider and extend from each side of the divider to the adjacent side wall for receiving the edges of a row of loose coins so that the row of loose coins is confined against collapse by the divider and one ofthe side walls, the grooves in the divider member being of substantially the same size and shape as the grooves in the bottom so that the grooves in the divider member are of sufficient size for supporting wrapped rolls of coins of the same denomination as those for which the bottom wall grooves are sized and with the supported wrapped rolls being above the bottom wall grooves, the height of the end walls being such as to project above said wrapped rolls when they are in said divider grooves and said rolls being accessible for endwise grasping through said lateral openings, said receptacle having a stacking portion at its upper end for receiving a superimposed tray which telescopes therewith and lies above and spaced from the wrapped rolls, said telescoping engagement being such as to prevent relative longitudinal and lateral movement between the two trays when stacked, said receptacle also having a depending stacking portion at its .4 lower end for telescopic engagement with a subjacent container. w 2. A coin storage system comprising at least three open top trays, one of the trays being substantially deeper than the other two trays, a second of the trays having a bottom, side Walls, and end walls that project above said side walls and cooperate therewith to define lateral openings at the sides of the second tray,*said bottom having a longitudinally extending upstanding divider that divides the tray into two parts, said divider being of a width which is a minor fractional part of the'distance between said side walls and having parallel grooves which run transversely of said divider, said bottom also having grooves that lie below the divider grooves that extend from each side of the divider to the adjacent side wall for receiving the edges of a row of loose coins so that the row of loose coins is confined against'collapse by the divider and one otthe side walls, the divider grooves being substantially the same size and shape as the grooves in the bottom so'that the divider grooves are of sufiicient size for supporting wrapped rolls of coins of the same denomination as those for which" the bottom grooves are sized and with the supported wrapped rolls being above the bottom wall grooves, the height of the end walls being such as to project above said wrapped rolls when they are in the divider grooves and said rolls being accessible for endwise grasping through said lateral openings, each tray having a stacking portion at its upper end and stacking flange means at its lower end, the stacking portions and stacking flanges of all trays being of similar contour and sized for telescopic interfi't so that the trays may be stacked in any order to prevent relative longitudinal and lateral movement when so stacked, and the stacking arrangement further being such that when said second tray is other than the uppermost tray of the stack and has wrapped rolls in the divider grooves, the superimposed tray will be spaced from said wrapped rolls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 26,727 1/1860 Young. 7 189,956 4/1877 Read 206-'0.84 814,178 3/1906 Waters 211'-49 838,121 12/1906 Kollieetal. 21"149 1,488,025 3/1924 Poynter 211-49 1,546,633 7/1925 Downey 220-97 2,257,891 10/1941 Stokes '211 49 2,997,201 8/1961 Da Prato 220-97 FOREIGN PATENTS 769,041 6/1934 France.

THERON L. CONDON, Primary Examiner, EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner.

J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A COIN STORAGE SYSTEM COMPRISING AT LEAST THREE OPEN TOP TRAYS, ONE OF THE TRAYS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY DEEPER THAN THE OTHER TWO TRAYS, A SECOND OF THE TRAYS HAVING A BOTTOM, SIDE WALLS, AND END WALLS THAT PROJECT ABOVE SAID SIDE WALLS AND COOPERATE THEREWITH TO DEFINE LATERAL OPENINGS AT THE SIDES OF THE SECOND TRAY, SAID BOTTOM HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING UPSTANDING DIVIDER THAT DIVIDES THE TRAY INTO TWO PARTS, SAID DIVIDER BEING OF A WIDTH WHICH IS A MINOR FRACTIONAL PART OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS AND HAVING PARALLEL GROOVES WHICH RUN TRANSVERSELY OF SAID DIVIDER, SAID BOTTOM ALSO HAVING GROOVES THAT LIE BELOW THE DIVIDER GROOVES THAT EXTEND FROM EACH SIDE OF THE DIVIDER TO THE ADJACENT SIDE WALL FOR RECEIVING THE EDGES OF A ROW OF LOOSE COINS SO THAT THE ROW OF LOOSE COINS IS CONFINED AGAINST COLLAPSE BY THE DIVIDER AND ONE OF THE SIDE WALLS, THE DIVIDER GROOVES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SIZE AND SHAPE AS THE GROOVES IN THE BOTTOM SO THAT THE DIVIDER GROOVES ARE OF SUFFICIENT SIZE FOR SUPPORTING WRAPPED ROLLS OF COINS OF THE SAME DENOMINATION AS THOSE FOR WHICH THE BOTTOM GROOVES ARE SIZED AND WITH THE SUPPORTED WRAPPED ROLLS BEING ABOVE THE BOTTOM WALLS GROOVES, THE HEIGHT OF THE END WALLS BEING SUCH AS TO PROJECT ABOVE SAID WRAPPED ROLLS WHEN THEY ARE IN THE DIVIDER GROOVES AND SAID ROLLS BEING ACCESSIBLE FOR ENDWISE GRASPING THROUGH SAID LATERAL OPENINGS, EACH TRAY HAVING A STACKING PORTION AT ITS UPPER END AND STACKING FLANGE MEANS AT ITS LOWER END, THE STACKING PORTIONS AND STACKING FLANGES OF ALL TRAYS BEING OF SIMILAR CONTOUR AN SIZED FOR TELESCOPIC INTERFIT SO THAT THE TRAYS MAY BE STACKED IN ANY ORDER TO PREVENT RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL AND LATERAL MOVEMENT WHEN SO STACKED, AND THE STACKING ARRANGEMENT FURTHER BEING SUCH THAT WHEN SAID SECOND TRAY IS OTHER THAN THE UPPERMOST TRAY OF THE STACK AND HAS WRAPPED ROLLS IN THE DIVIDER GROOVES, THE SUPERIMPOSED TRAY WILL BE SPACED FROM SAID WRAPPED ROLLS. 